August 2026
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No images? Click here  August 2026 NewsletterSupporting caregivers supports babies and toddlers Parenting and caregiving can be joyful, exhausting, overwhelming, and meaningful, sometimes all in the same day. Our latest blog explores why caregiver well-being matters for babies and toddlers, and how everyday support, local resources, and stronger community systems can help families across Rochester and the Finger Lakes region feel seen, valued, and connected. Learn more in the second blog of our new series about creating Strong Beginnings. Clear answers, healthy kids: Trusted vaccine information for Finger Lakes Families
In our latest blog, local children’s health leaders and practitioners share trusted vaccine information, answer common questions, and explain what support is available for families across Rochester and the Finger Lakes as the school year begins. One week to go: Get ready for the Playful Learning Summit! The 2026 Healthi Kids Playful Learning Summit is almost here! This year’s theme, “The Right to Play: How Play Liberates Learning and Supports Whole Child Health,” will bring together educators, parents, caregivers, and community partners for a day of hands-on learning, reflection, and connection. We’re excited to welcome Kisa Marx as this year’s keynote speaker whose topic, “Dreaming for Other People’s Children,” is sure to inspire. The day will also feature a youth panel and interactive workshops focused on play and belonging, neurodiversity-affirming literacy, sensory responsive play, educator resilience, micro-moments of play, and community partnerships that support playful learning. 📅 Thursday, August 20, 2026 Time is running out. Register today! Be part of the conversation about the future of food Join the Rochester Food Policy Council for a special screening of Feeding Tomorrow, a documentary about the leaders working across agriculture, healthcare, and education to build a more just, regenerative, and resilient food system. The evening will also include a panel discussion, giving attendees an opportunity to connect the film’s themes to local efforts and opportunities here in Rochester.
Learn more and reserve your tickets! Celebrate the National Day of Play with us Healthi Kids and the International Play Association Western NY Chapter are excited to bring you the biggest play day Rochester has ever seen! Want to build with giant-sized blocks? Create a masterpiece with sidewalk chalk? Invent a new game? Awesome! We'll have lots of activities and supplies to get your imagination going. Whether you stop by on your way to a show or spend the whole day playing with us, there will be fun for all ages.  For August’s Culture Corner, we’re celebrating Caribbean community, family traditions, food, music, and culture. This month’s family-friendly recommendations include: 📚 Read: Freedom Soup by Tami Charles, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara 🎬 Watch: Lyla in the Loop on PBS KIDS 💡 Keep Learning: Attend Carifest on August 7 and 8, or explore Caribbean food traditions together later this month These resources invite children to learn about culture through family stories, food, music, community celebrations, and shared traditions. In the headlinesKids share ideas for park planned in Rochester’s 19th Ward, Democrat & Chronicle      |
